In these tough economic times, many companies are cutting corners and one of the first corners cut seems to be annual retreats. Instead of canceling the team building and critical planning that annual retreats foster, consider hosting your annual corporate retreat closer to home. One such location that caters to business travelers is Haywood County, North Carolina. You can drive to Haywood County in around five hours, approximately the same driving distance as a trip to the Gulf Coast.
Companies can count on numerous options for team building exercises, including horseback riding, white water rafting, fly fishing and hiking. Cataloochee Ranch offers guided group horse riding tours and team building exercises with mile high views of the surrounding Smoky Mountains. The ranch also offers guided hiking and lodging for up to sixty-five guests, with breakfast and dinner included. Fly fishing can be scheduled through your concierge or directly with the Waynesville Fly Shop, which provides equipment, training and guides so even first time fly fishers have the full experience.
Small groups should consider lodging at Andon Reid, an award winning bed and breakfast with five impeccable guest rooms and breathtaking views of the mountains. What sets Andon Reid apart for the business traveler is their full gym and personal trainer on staff. Hourly rates for the personal trainer are available upon request but the full gym, which includes a sauna, is available for all guests. Andon Reid also provides free WiFi, concierge service, and fax and copy machines. Another perk is Andon Reid's four course, made from scratch breakfast. If you're thinking a four course breakfast sounds too heavy for a full business day, think again. Andon Reid caters to special diets, including vegan and gluten free; and their vegan artichoke cakes are simply out of this world. If you prefer even lighter fare, Andon Reid will oblige with a smaller breakfast or even a breakfast to go. Moreover, Andon Reid's owner, personal trainer and chef, Rachel, will provide you the recipe for any dish of which you are particularly fond.
Larger groups can be accommodated at Maggie Valley's Boyd Log Cabins, home to seven authentic log cabins, each dating back 150 to 200 years. The Boyd Log Cabins offer the authenticity of centuries' old cabins - with all the amenities a modern traveler requires, including televisions, full kitchens, updated bathrooms and WiFi in certain areas. The 130 acre property, nestled into a cove overlooking the Smoky Mountains, doubles as a Christmas tree farm and offers stocked fishing ponds. Each of the seven cabins has a unique and beautiful view and are just minutes from downtown Waynesville, Asheville or the activities at Cataloochee Ranch.
If your retreat includes a free day, attendees can shop the local stores in downtown Waynesville or visit nearby Asheville or Highlands, North Carolina. Asheville, home to the Biltmore and a burgeoning organic/locavore food scene, and Highlands, an area that has established itself as a second home to many Birminghamians, are both a short drive from any of Haywood County's accommodations.
The bottom line is simply, whatever your company's bottom line this year, Birmingham is fortunate to be near numerous excellent options for business retreats. Therefore, before you make the decision to cancel the company retreat altogether, consider nearby options including mountainous Haywood County.
As seen in the online magazine, The Pillars, LLC http://www.thepillarsllc.com
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